Animation Brings the Past to Life Using Actual Photos from the Early 1900s

With the aid of a steampunk time machine, Russian artist Alexey Zakharov transports you to the early 1900s in this jaw-dropping animation that brings the past to life using actual photos from the early 1900s.

Zakharov describes the project, entitled The Old New World, as a ‘photo-based animation made with camera projection’ and based on source photos from the incredible Shorpy.com archives.

Zakharov used photos of New York, Detroit, Baltimore, Boston and Washington, D.C., from 1900-1940 in his film with music by Al Bowlly. For those curious, the song is called “Guilty” and you can find the film along with still frames and illustrations below.